BSR Classical Interludes, December 2025

Market Street Music: Mastersingers: Winter’s Night
Friday, December 5, 7:30pm
First & Central Presbyterian Church, 1101 North Market Street/Rodney Square, Wilmington

Newly under the direction of Emily Ballentine Erb, this highly regarded Wilmington ensemble sings an evening of choral music evoking the beauty of the Christmas season. The program features a set of reflective works on the Latin holiday text O magnum mysterium, Marian music including three Ave Marias, and the Delaware premiere of A Winter’s Night, British composer Cecilia McDowall’s setting of carols. The singers will be joined by brass, percussion, and organist Marvin Mills.

Choral Arts Philadelphia: Carols by Candlelight
Saturday, December 6, 4pm and 7pm
Holy Trinity Rittenhouse, 1904 Walnut Street

Now in its 43rd season, this excellent Philadelphia ensemble also focuses its annual December concert on Christmas offerings, inviting listeners to take a holiday break and experience the beauty of carols, ancient and modern, in the glow of candlelight. Under the direction of Donald Meineke, the singers will present two 90-minute concerts (same repertoire, same day) in one of Philadelphia's favorite Center City venues.

Lyric Fest: Fascinating Rhythm: George Gershwin as He Played It
Saturday, December 6, 3pm
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr

Sunday, December 7, 3pm
American Philosophical Society/Franklin Hall, 104 South 5th Street

This presenter focuses on song, but their December concert also stars the pianism of George Gershwin, whose dazzling playing is highlighted in a program featuring concert pianist and composer Logan Skelton and Lyric Fest co-founder and pianist Laura Ward. Working with the Gershwin Estate, Skelton has revisited Gershwin songs based on historic recordings of the composer playing his own music. The pianists are joined by two top-tier vocalists—mezzo Devony Smith and baritone Grant Youngblood—and the afternoon also features co-founder Suzanne DuPlantis reading from Gershwin’s writings, letters, and biography.

1807 & Friends: Piano Quartets with pianist Cynthia Raim
Monday, December 8, 7:30pm
Academy of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce Street, Philadelphia

For another break from the sounds of the holiday, one of Philadelphia’s foremost pianists returns for a concert of piano quartets. The program opens with Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G minor and concludes with the beautiful Piano Quartet in E-flat Major by Antonín Dvořák. Between the two works is Schubert’s String Trio in B-flat Major, all with performers Cynthia Raim (piano), Nancy Bean (violin), Mary SangHyun Yong (viola), and cellist Thomas Kraines.

Silent Night Sing-In
Friday, December 12, 5pm
Kimmel Center/Commonwealth Plaza, 300 South Broad Street, Philadelphia

Organized by Temple’s classical/jazz radio station WRTI and hosted by John T.K. Scherch, the now-annual holiday event invites singers of all ages and abilities to join in singing this classic carol. Conducted by John Conahan, hundreds of people from all across the region will rehearse at 5pm to prepare for the 5:40pm sing-along. It’s free to participate, and music is available at the link above. Registration is encouraged so the organizers can adequately prepare for the event.

And Handel’s Messiah everywhere!

This iconic work was originally written for Easter, but it has become a beloved Christmas-season staple, and this year is no exception. From December 12-14, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra are joined by some starry vocalists and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir (directed by Joe Miller). Then, playing on period instruments and led by concertmaster Emlyn Ngai and artistic co-director Richard Stone, baroque orchestra Tempesta di Mare will offer four concerts from December 18-21 in both Philadelphia and Wilmington, with soloists and the choir of Christ Church Christiana Hundred. On December 5, 7, 19, and 21, artistic director Valentin Radu’s Vox AmaDeus will also present four performances (without intermission) throughout the region in Philadelphia, Paoli, and Wayne. And you can finish the year with Choral Arts Philadelphia, back from their earlier December concert and joined by the Philadelphia Bach Collegium for their traditional 4pm New Year’s Eve offering. This year … you guessed it … it’s Messiah!

Featured image: Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra perform Handel's 'Messiah.' (Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Orchestra.)

Image description: Nézet-Séguin on stage conducting, wearing a festive blazer and a Christmas tree slightly out of focus in background